Oklahoma man found guilty of grand theft

Monday

Jan 9, 2017 at 5:35 PMJan 9, 2017 at 5:35 PM

By Zack McDonald | The News Herald

PANAMA CITY — A Bay County jury deliberated just under 30 minutes Jan. 3 before finding 42-year-old Michael Joseph Bransford guilty as charged of grand theft over $20,000, according to a news release from the State Attorney’s Office.

Assistant State Attorney Brittany Forester called three witnesses Jan. 3 to testify that Bransford, of Ponca City, Oklahoma, withdrew nearly $21,000 from a Bay County Regions Bank before bank officials discovered the check was fraudulent. Although originally claimingthe check was an IRA rollover from a previous employer, Bransford later told bank personnel he had been scammed by Nigerians. At trial, Bransford told a third version and testified he had been “catfished” by a girlfriend.

Circuit Judge Hentz McClellan scheduled a sentencing hearing for Jan. 19, when Bransford could face 15 years in prison.